April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month in the U.S., a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. Our mandate as child advocates is to ensure that all children within our care and those we interact with every day enjoy a loving and safe environment.

Compassion is committed to protecting children from all forms of abuse and exploitation. Our board policy communicates this clearly by stating that:

“Concern for children is the cornerstone upon which Compassion International has been built. We are opposed to all forms of abuse and exploitation and will do everything within our power to ensure that no harm comes to any child registered in our program due to his or her involvement in the ministry of Compassion International.”

By protecting children, we are responding to Christ’s mandate to care for and protect His little ones.

“due to his or her involvement in the ministry of Compassion International.” I read that meaning primarily ‘at the hands of Compassion/project staff.’

Compassion and its partner churches must know that abuse happens…I figure/hope there are counselors for the children. Is it generally part of the ministry of the churches to meet with & counsel the families if abuse is suspected/known?

I remember a request on the prayer calendar recently asking for the families where stepmothers were hindering their stepchildren from attending project activities because they weren’t their biological children. When I went back and reread the phrase “due to his or her involvement in the ministry of Compassion International” I began to wonder if, once registered, a child will begin to be abused by family members, or once they become a Christian where the family has not yet believed.

One also must remember that abuse doesn’t only happen physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. As an adult, I am able to recognize that even though my mother did not physically harm me, she was extremely emotionally abusive on a daily basis. As a result, I battled with severe self esteem issues…only within the past few years have I come to understand the reason (and not on my own…through counseling).

So, even if Compassion centers do not PHYSICALLY see signs of abuse, there may still be other forms of abuse going on.

Abuse often happens in the name of God, as well. Parents and other adults put God’s work ahead of the care of their children forgetting that their children are the primary work of God that has been given to them to do.